About

My name is Catherine Armstrong, and there are two things that you need to know about me:

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1) I have a firm belief that people are awesome.

2) I am determined to make the world a better place.

 

I have a passion for solving problems, learning, working hard, and building relationships. The people with whom you come in contact each day are the most important part of your day. Because of this realization, I am determined to pursue social entrepreneurship and dedicate my career to helping others in any way I can.

 

In May of 2020, I graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington summa cum laude with a major in Business Administration double concentrating in Supply Chain Management and Entrepreneurship & Business Development. Additionally, I minored in Spanish. I am the 2020 Outstanding Graduate of Entrepreneurship & Business Development and the Cameron School of Business 2020 E.M. West Award Recipient for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

 

However, I believe one's education is much more than what can be learned in the classroom.

 

I am the 2016 recipient of the Dr. James R. Leutze Merit Scholarship Endowment which covers the full cost of attendance of UNCW for four years. Because of this unbelievable scholarship, I have had many opportunities that never in my wildest dreams did I think would be possible. In addition to the organizations of which I am a part and two internships, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Argentina, in May of 2017, to improve my Spanish. It was not only my first experience outside of the United States but also my first flight ever. This experience ignited my passion for traveling.

 

In May of 2018, I continued my education beyond the classroom by traveling to Iceland with a UNCW Honors seminar dedicated to Global Citizenship.

 

In July of 2018, I was one of two students asked to represent the Cameron School of Business at its partner university in Russia, the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, for an international undergraduate conference on entrepreneurship in entertainment and culture.

 

In March of 2019, I volunteered abroad in Guatemala City, Guatemala to help single mothers and children in some of the poorest regions of the city.

 

In the summer of 2019, as tekMountain’s Global Ambassador, I solo traveled to Austin, Los Angeles, and back to Buenos Aires, Argentina to research social entrepreneurship and how impact is being measured around the globe. I created The Impact Observer blog and podcast to document my interviews with social entrepreneurs.

 

Additionally, I had the privilege of attending:

• Praxis Labs 2019 Praxis Academy

• Buenos Aires Institute of Technology 2019 South American Business Forum

• American Enterprise Institute 2019 Values and Capitalism Weekend Honors Program

• American Enterprise Institute 2020 Summer Honors Program entitled, "International Economic Development: Why Institutions Matter"

• New Story Charity's five-week Founders Lab

 

My mission for The Impact Observer is to bridge my knowledge gap and help others do the same by meeting social entrepreneurs, hearing their stories, learning why/how they fight the world's inequities, and learning how they measure the impact of their actions. From this primary research and much self-reflection throughout my journey, I hope to discover how I can fit into the international web of social entrepreneurship and make an impact on the lives of others.

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